Kaizer Chiefs Coach Addresses Ntwari’s Substitution Standoff

Kaizer Chiefs coach Cedric Kaze addresses goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari’s refusal to be substituted.

Goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari’s defiance in being substituted before the penalty shootout in the Carling Knockout has caught the attention of Kaizer Chiefs coach Cedric Kaze. The incident occurred during their match against Stellenbosch, where the team suffered a narrow 5-4 defeat at DHL Stadium on Sunday.

Ntwari, who had not played since November 2024, was intended to be replaced by Bruce Bvuma in the dying moments of extra time, as the technical staff hoped Bvuma could make crucial saves in the penalty shootout. However, Ntwari opted to stay on the pitch and managed to save one penalty.

Coach Kaze commented, “I believe those kinds of situations are something that we’re going to handle internally.” He acknowledged Ntwari’s good intentions, though he admitted the situation was not handled as effectively as it could have been.

During the upcoming FIFA international break, Ntwari will join the Rwanda national team to prepare for their World Cup qualifier against Bafana Bafana. Kaze expressed optimism that this break will provide Chiefs with a chance to regroup after a challenging series of matches, noting that the team played six games in 18 days, including travel to Angola.

“This break comes through good timing because we have seen what we need to work on,” Kaze stated. He emphasized the need for improvement in converting goal-scoring opportunities and believed the players required some rest after a demanding schedule.

The Phefeni Glamour Boys will look to bounce back as they resume their CAF Confederation Cup campaign, facing AS Simba Kolwezi in Congo on 17 October, followed by a second leg clash in South Africa.